Objectives To administrated proteasome inhibitor-MG-132 prior to reperfusion in rat myocardial ischemia-reperfusion model to determine whether MG-132 could reduce myocytic apoptosis. Methods and results MG-132 (0.75 mg/kg in 2 ml DMSO) injection 5 min prior to reperfusion resulted significant reduction of myocardial reperfusion injury. This effect was accompanied by reduced polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) infiltration in myocardial region surrounding the myocardial infarct, reduced apoptosis in cardiac myocytes, reduced NF-κB activation, as determined by electron microscopy, histology, immunohistochemistry, the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end-labeling (TUNEL) method, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Functional effects of MG-132 on PMN accumulation, activation of nuclear factor kappa B (p65 mRNA and protein levels), and apoptosis were characterized in rat myocardial tissue. MG132 time-dependently inhibited myocardial p65 mRNA expression and reduced myocardial apoptotic index (AI) after reperfusion for 2 h, 6 h and 24 h (P<0.01). Moreover, MG-132 time-dependently decreased Bax protein levels, while increased Bcl-2 protein levels in ischemic and reperfused myocardium (P<0.05), its effect peaked after reperfusion for 24 h. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that MG-132 reduced myocardial reperfusion injury by inhibiting myosytic apoptotic cell death and blocking activation of NF-κB, down-regulating Bax expression and up-regulating Bcl-2 expression as well as elevating Bcl-2/Bax ratio. Objectives To administrated proteasome inhibitor-MG-132 prior to reperfusion in rat myocardial ischemia-reperfusion model to determine whether MG-132 could reduce myocytic apoptosis. Methods and results MG- 132 (0.75 mg / kg in 2 ml DMSO) This effect was accompanied by reduced polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) infiltration in myocardial region surrounding the myocardial infarct, reduced apoptosis in cardiac myocytes, reduced NF-κB activation, as determined by electron microscopy, histology, Functional effects of MG-132 on PMN accumulation, activation of nuclear factor kappa B (p65 mRNA and protein levels), and apoptosis were characterized in rat myocardial tissue. MG132 time-dependently inhibited myocardial p65 mRNA expression and r (P <0.01). Furthermore, MG-132 time-dependently decreased Bax protein levels, while increased Bcl-2 protein levels in ischemic and reperfused myocardium Conclusions Our results demonstrate that MG-132 reduced myocardial reperfusion injury by inhibiting myosytic apoptotic cell death and blocking activation of NF-κB, down-regulating Bax expression and up-regulating Bcl -2 expression as well as elevating Bcl-2 / Bax ratio.